The Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta, officially handed over the Okongo Forestry Horticultural Project to the community titled "hydroponic farming systems".

Okongo community forestry was established in 1997 and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia stepped in with funding of N$3 million from August 2019 until August 2021.

The project covers about 55,918 hectares of land in Okongo Constituency, whose major sources of livelihood are crop production, livestock rearing, and non-timber forest products.

The Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta, is grateful to see national resource mobilisation efforts on climate finance bearing fruit and reaching the intended beneficiaries.

"The three greenhouses behind us as well as all project activities being implemented here at the Okongo community forest indicate the Ohangwena Region's diverse agricultural potential as well as sustainability forestry utilisation and agroforestry practice to enhance the livelihoods of our people."

The project has greater potential to create jobs through horticultural production, income generation, and integrated natural resource business ventures through timber processing and bee farming.

The project currently has two employees and 65 temporary workers.

Shifeta urged the community of Okongo, especially the youth, to safeguard the investment project and transform their livelihoods, reduce unemployment, and minimise the influx of young people to urban centers in search of opportunities.

His sentiments were echoed by Environmental Investment Fund Executive Business Strategy and Performance Manager, Aina Iiteta, who called on the youth to take the initiative.

"We are hoping that the youth will come to the center to drive this initiative. We will continue through our leaders to make this call for our youth to come on board and support this initiative."